This is a wonderful place to visit, a real direct connection with the history of Berlin.read more

If you happen to find yourself strolling down zimmerstraße and you happen love the confluence are…read moreart, history, and punk rock, you owe it to yourself to stop by this cool little off-beat eclectic gallery. They were closed when I myself happened by, was drawn to the cool mosaics and ceramics outside, and decided to press my face against the glass for a glance inside. They were closed but when Claudia saw me, we came over to the door and let me in. We chatted for short spell about the art scene in Berlin and what it's been like to occupy an art space on the cusp of some much ever changing history. It was unique and thoroughly local experience.

My first stop in Berlin and on my list of must-visit spots if you're into western art. Located in a…read moremuseum district (different from museum island), this museum is part of the Kulturforum group of museums*, which is nearby the Berlin Philharmonic and Kammermusikaal concert hall. It's a little more than 10 min walk west from Potsdamer Platz. Tickets are €16, (~$16.50USD currently) and can be purchased online or in-person, and arriving around 2pm on a Friday afternoon the short line took about 10 minutes. You can also purchase one-day tickets to all the museums in the Kulturforum for €4 more which I didn't realize until after the fact or I would've done that. You can't pay the difference to upgrade the ticket. They don't allow larger bags or backpacks so these can be checked for free with a €1 coin (returned upon retrieval of your items) in the lockers in the basement. The main special exhibit when I visited was on the works of Frans Hals. They assembled a large number of works, maybe around 100, including some of his contemporaries and artists coming out of his workshop. The gallery was laid out mostly in chronological order and I greatly appreciated their effort in providing both German and English descriptions for every work. There are many other pieces outside of this exhibit by well-known or lesser-known artists. Some names you may recognize include Rembrandt, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Johannes Vermeer, Titian, Peter Paul Rubens, Albrecht Dürer. I really enjoyed perusing their entire collection! If you take your time I'm sure you could easily spend 5 hours here though I given the time of day I spent around 2.5 hrs. There is a museum cafe available on the second floor accessible from the Kulturforum lobby, and a museum store also adjacent to the lobby. Bathrooms or located in a few diff locations including by the lockers in the basement. Easily reachable by public transportation and some walking, or parking is located in various lots/structures nearby. *consists of: Gemäldegalerie Kunstbibliothek Kunstgewerbemuseum Kupferstichkabinett Neue Nationalgalerie

This museum was awesome and it was fun to take an electric scooter to…read more My mother and I visited this museum a few months ago and when we got there we ran inside as it was a tad close to closing time. They won't let you take big coats or anything inside the actual museum so I had to rush downstairs to the lockers to put my stuff away. This is one of the coolest museums in Berlin, IMO. They had some paintings that I have been wanting to see for years so it was well worth the trip. They have a TON of paintings and art here, it was overwhelming, in a good way. When I'm in Berlin again, I will definitely be going back.

The Eastside Gallery is a MUST STOP when visiting the Hauptstadt Berlin…read more If only to come see the mural "My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love" by Dmitri Vrubel. Recently, Berlin foodie stop Curry 61 did a funny parody, see photos. This section of the former Berlin Wall, has over a hundred mural on this lone remaining section on Mühlenstraße along the Spree River.

East Side Gallery is not really what is commonly thought of as an, "Art Gallery." What it is, is a…read morelong section of wall where various artist exhibit their work by creating one of their pieces on the wall. Yes, it is a little bit strange. East Side Gallery is a really a very long wall. There are a lot of artists that have their work showing on this wall. Just like beauty in in the eye of the beholder, so is art. Some of the work along this wall is very good. Others, not so much. All this being said, it is an interesting concept. And, it is something that you should see if you are in Berlin. Just don't get your hopes up to experience something truly revolutionary or cutting edge. Remember, it's just a wall with a bunch of paintings on it.

This is your goto joint for loads of weird experimental, totally niche, outer-limits music. There…read moreis a very large (Japanese) noise music section. Lots of limited vinyl, CDs, some 7"s and other stuff, lots of groovy, zany-ass screen printed artwork on the walls and in the little atelier between the two main rooms. 4 Stars!!

Very cool shop. Almost all experimental/ underground stuff, less of the punk hardcore spectrum…read morefound in a lot of similar shops. I wanted to go here because I grew up on a lot of the stuff that they released on their label in the 90's and 2000's. I got buzzed in and greeted, and then they left me alone to go through the tables of underground zines, printed matter and of course, vinyl. There were about 3-4 long tables of experimental records, some classified by country, which I thought was an interesting way to organize the stacks. As such there was a lot I'd never heard of. If I had more time, I would be more motivated to hang out on the couch and preview some of the records at the listening station. Prices were ok. I saw a lot of records with an average price of 13 Euro. Their printed matter is also extensive, and a good place to go for interesting zines and small publication arty reads.

I've walked by WerkStadt several times but not stopped in yet, until last night…read more After an unsuccessful attempt to find an interesting kneipe in Kreuzberg (although, with admittedly particular criteria and high standards), my companion and I braved haphazard public transportation to head back to our hood. Once in Neukölln, he suggested we check out one of our local bars, WerkStadt. I dig this place. As he commented, it was a bit cold, but overall the atmosphere is still quite inviting. There are two rooms, tables with candles, couches, a chalkboard bar menu, pleasant lighting, art on the walls and lots of people who seem to really know and enjoy one another's company. The beer was good and cheap, and the overall concept of the business as an artist space is something I dig. Best of all, this is a short walk away from my flat. I can definitely see becoming a semi-regular here.

My husband and I went on a trip to Berlin recently and found this little shop while we were walking…read morearound. This is a fantastic little store with fun souvenirs from local artists and businesses. They have a great selection of books, postcards, prints & posters, knickknacks, t-shirts, and artsy/designy things that I love. They also have espresso! The shop owner was very nice too. As tourists in Berlin, we definitely love stores that benefit local artists and businesses owners over the usual boring souvenir shops.

Cool owner, cool shop, cool stuff. You can have a blast just checking out a film in the back room…read moreor browsing the random goods throughout the store. A little touristy for my taste, but then again, the steps up to the shop are the site of a postcard photoshoot. Enjoy!